Time-control device



Oct. 6, 1959 Filed May 13. 1953 H. F. ELLIOTT TIME-CONTROL DEVICE 80.3 b 26b i 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 H. F. ELLIOTT TIME-CONTROL DEVICE Oct. 6, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 13. 1953 FIG.4

United States Patent TIME-CONTROL DEVICE Harold F. Elliott, Palo Alto, Calif.

Application May 13, 1953, Serial No. 354,847

7 Claims. (Cl. 161-1) This invention relates to time-control devices and, while it is of general application, it is particularly suitable for embodiment in a precision interval timer for determining the duration of operation of an electric or electrically controlled appliance.

In applicants prior Patent 2,440,142 there is described and claimed a time-control device for determining with precision the time of operation of a controlled device. In general, the time-control device of that patent comprises minute and hour time shafts adapted to be driven by a timing motor means, a settable minute shaft, a settable hour shaft, and means operable only upon angular correspondence of the time shafts and the respective settable shafts for actuating a control means.

The present invention constitutes an improved timecontrol device of the general type described in aforesaid patent. One feature of the improved time-control device is that the timing of two independent functions may be controlled in sequence. Another feature of the improved time-control device is that the control means may be operated manually entirely independently of the automatic time-control mechanism of the device and irrespective of whether it is in set or released position.

It is an object of the invention, therefore, to provide a new and improved time-control device which is simple and economical in construction and which is, at the same time, capable of determining the timing of two independent functions with a high degree of precision.

It is another object of the invention to provide a new and improved time-control device in which the control means may be operated non-automatically, for example, manually, completely independently of the automatic time-control mechanism of the device and irrespective of'whether his in set or released position.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided in a timing system including timing motor means, a time-control device comprising at least one time shaft adapted to be driven by the timing motor means, at least one settable shaft and a pivoted lever having at one end thereof a pivoted element biased to neutral position. The timing system also includes a pivoted actuating arm engageable with the pivoted element to actuate the pivoted lever'only upon angular correspondence'of the time shaft and settable shaft, and control means actuated by the pivoted lever, such lever being manually operable for actuating the control means independently of the pivoted actuating arm.

Further in accordance with the invention, there is provided ina timing system including timing motor means, a time-control device comprising at least one timecontrol' mechanism including minute and hour time shafts adapted to be driven by the motor means, settable minute and hour shafts, and a pivoted actuating arm operable only upon angular correspondence of the time shafts and the respective ones of the settable shafts. The time-control device further includes control means and-a pivoted lever having an operating connection to the control means and a one-Way driving engagement with the pivoted actuating arm to be actuated thereby, such pivoted lever being manually operable for actuating the control means at any time in either direction completely free of the pivoted actuating arm.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Fig. 1 of the drawings is a front view of a time-control device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 taken along the lines 22;

Figs. 3A, 3B, and 3C are detail views of the control means of the apparatus of Fig. 1 and its actuating mechanisms in three successive relative positions;

Fig. 4is an exploded perspective view of a repeat-nonrepeat mechanism which is suitable for embodiment in the time-control device of Figs. 13AC, inclusive.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2, 3A, 3B, and 3C of the drawings, there is represented a time-control device for use in a timing system including a timing motor means, such as a conventional clock motor 10. The motor 10 drives the second hand 11, minute hand 12, and hour hand 13 over a clock face 14 through conventional gearing', omitted for the sake of clarity. The time-control device also comprises a pair of time-control mechanisms 15a, 1512, each including minute and hour time shafts connected to be driven by the motor In. The minute shafts are in the form of sleeve shafts or hubs 16a, 16b journalled in sleeves 17a, 17b secured in a back frame plate 18 of the device. The minute time shafts 16a, 161) are provided with pinions 19a, 19b driven from the motor 10 through a pinion 2t) and a gear 21 meshing with the pinions 19a, 19b.

The time-control mechanisms 15a, 15b also include hour time shafts in the form of sleeve shafts or bushings 22a, 2212 on which are secured gears 23a, 23b, respectively, and engaging elements 24a, 24b having depending lug elements 25a, 255, respectively. The gears 23a, 23b are driven by pinion 73 forming a part of the clock gear train, not shown. The mechanisms 15a, 15b further include settable minute shafts 26a, 25b, to the outer ends of which are secured the manually operable knobs 27a, 27b and settable minute hands 8a, 81) cooperating with clock faces 9a, 9b, respectively. The shafts 26a, 26b are journalled in the coaxial sleeve shafts 16a, 16b, respectively. To the inner ends of the shafts 26a, 2611 are secured discs 28a, 231), as by means of unitary hubs 29a, 29b suitably secured to the shafts 26a, 26b, asby set screws. The discs 28a, 28b are provided with recesses 30a, 3011, while the time minute shafts 16a, 16b have secured thereto collars 31a, 3112 with depending lugs 32a, 32b engageable with the recesses 36a, 30b, respectively, to permit relative axial movement between the settable minute shafts 26a, 26b and the time minute shafts 16a, 16b.

The time-control mechanisms 15a, 15b also include settable hour shafts 33a, 33b, journalled in the time hour shafts 22a, 22b and, in turn, providing additional bearing journals for the settable minute shafts 26a, 26b. On the outer ends of the shafts 33a, 3351 are mounted settable hour hands 7a, 7b movable over the clock faces 9a, 9b, respectively. The settable hour shafts 33a, 33b are connected to be driven by the settable minute shafts 26a, 26b, respectively, through gears 34a, 34b meshing with pinions 35a, 35b secured to the settable minute shafts 26a, 26b; pinions 36a, 36b secured to the gears 34a, 34b, respectively; and gears 37a, 37b secured to the settable hour shafts 33a,. 33b, respectively. The

idler shafts for the gears 34a, 34b and the pinions 36a, 36b are directly behind the shafts 26a, 26b and are omitted for the sake of clarity. The gears 37a, 37b are provided with recesses 38a, 38b engageable with the lug elements 25a, 25b connected to the hour time shafts 22a, 22b, respectively, to permit axial movement between the settable hour shafts and the time hour shafts when these respective shafts are in angular correspondence. If ordinary alarm clock accuracy is adequate, the minute time and settable shafts and associated parts may be omitted.

The time-control device of the invention also includes means, such as leaf springs 39a, 39b, secured to the back frame plate 18 and bearing upon the ends of the settable minute shafts 26a, 26b to bias them into outward axial movement relative to the time minute shafts 16a, 16b and the hour time shafts 22a, 22b. The gears 37a, 37b are secured against axial movement with respect to the settable minute shafts 26a, 26b so that relative axial movement between these shafts and the time minute shafts 16a, 16b is permitted only when the sets of minute shafts and the sets of hour shafts are both in angular correspondence. The depending lugs 37a, 32b are somewhat shorter than the lugs 25a, 25b to permit free rotation between the discs 28a, 28b and the lugs 32a, 32b while the lugs 25a, 25b are in engagement with their respective gears 37a, 37b. Preferably the lugs 25a, 25b are somewhat tapered to limit the speed of relative axial movement between the time shafts and the settable shafts when they reach angular correspondence, thus eliminating a pronounced click which otherwise occurs upon such axial movement.

The time-control device also includes a two-position control means and means including a lost-motion connection and operable only upon angular correspondence between both sets of time shafts and settable shafts of one of the time-control mechanisms a, 15b, that is, upon their relative axial movementas described, for actuating the control means. The control means is in the form of a two-position on-off switch 51, while the actuating means includes a double-ended T-shaped element 40 (Fig. 3A) pivoted at 40c on the end of an operating lever 41 pivoted at 42 on a frame member 43. The element 40 is provided with an upward extension 44 disposed between the arms of a spring stirrup 45 secured to the lever 41 for normally maintaining the element 40 in its neutral position in axial alignment with the lever 41 but permitting limited pivotal movement during operation.

The lost-motion actuating connection for the control means or switch 51 also includes a pair of arms 47a, 47b pivoted on the frame at 48a, 48b, respectively, and having notched ends 47c, 47d, respectively, disposed selectively to engage one or the other of upstanding lugs 40a, 40b on opposite ends of the pivoted element 40 so that, upon rotation of the arm 47a counterclockwise or rotation of the arm 47b clockwise, the lever 41 is actuated to one or the other of its operating positions. The arms 47a, 47b are provided with leaf spring extensions 49a, 49b and projecting ears 50a, 50b which, in their operating positions, engage opposite sides of the discs 28a, 28b secured to the settable minute shafts 26a, 26b, so that the arms 47w, 47b are actuated by the axial mo tion of the shafts and discs. The spring extensions and ears also frictionally restrain the discs 28a, 28b and their shafts from rotation, but permit relative movement during the operation of setting the shafts and discs to desired operating times.

The operating connection from the lever 41 to the control switch 51 is in the form of an over-center or snapaction element 52 of insulation material connected between the end of the blade of the switch 51 and a spring arm 53 secured to the lever 41. In explaining the operation of the time-control device of the invention, it will be assumed that initially both of the time-control 4 mechanisms 15m and 15b are in their unoperated positions, as illustrated by the mechanism 15b of Fig. 2 and Fig. 3A. Under these conditions, the arms 47a, 47b are both in their lower positions, as represented in Fig. 3A, ready to be operated by their respective time-control mechanisms. Under these conditions, it will be seen that the lever 41 may be operated manually by its extension 46 in either direction to operate the control switch 51 to either position independently of the arms 47a, 47b, the lugs 40a, 40b merely seating in one or the other of the notches 47c, 47d.

If now it be assumed that the time is 5:30 and that the system is set to operate the switch 51 to the On position at 5:30, as shown in Fig. 1, the minute and hour time shafts and the minute and hour settable shafts of the time-control mechanism 15a will have reached angular correspondence, the detent 25a will have entered the recess 38a in the disc 37a and the detent 32a will have entered the recess 30a in the disc 2811, as shown in Fig, 2. Under these conditions, the spring 39a will have actuated the movable assembly of the mechanism 15a axially upwardly, the disc 28a carrying the arm 47a with it to the position shown in Fig. 3B. In the course of this movement, the engagement of the lug 40a of the element 40 in the seat 470 of arm 47a has caused the element 40 and the lever 41, on which it is mounted, to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 3A to that shown in Fig. 3B, imparting a snap-action closing movement to the control switch 51. It is clear that arm 47a need actuate element 40 and lever 41 only beyond the position corresponding to the dead-center position of snap switch 51; thereafter, the force of the leaf spring 53 continues the movement of lever 41 to its limiting position or until the strain of spring 53 is released. Again it is clear that in this condition of the time control device, the lever 41 may be actuated by its extension 46 either to the right or to the left to open or close the switch 51 independently of the actuating arms 47a, 47b.

The timing mechanism will remain with its elements in the relative positions described until the hour and minute time shafts of the mechanism 15b reach angular correspondence with the hour and minute settable shafts of this mechanism. Assuming that these latter shafts are set at 6:15 as represented in Fig. 1, at this time the corresponding hour and minute time and settable shafts do reach angular correspondence, permitting relative axial movement therebetween under the force of spring 39b, whereupon the disc 28b actuates the arm 47b to its upper operated position, as illustrated in Fig. 3C. During the course of this movement, due to the engagement of the lug 40b of element 40 in the recess 47d of arm 47b, the arm 41 is rotated in a clockwise direction and imparts a snap-action opening movement to the control switch 51. Again it is clear that, in this position in which both of the timing mechanisms 15a, 15b have been operated so that the switch 51 is in an Off position, still the switch 51 may be operated manually by the extension 46 of lever 41 independently of the actuating arms 47a, 47b. In fact, in this operated position shown in Fig. BC, the element 40 is completely out of engagement with both arms 47a, 47b in either of its positions.

In brief, the lever 41 may be operated manually by its extension 46 to operate the control switch 51 to either of its positions completely independent of the positions of arms 47a, 47b as determined by the settings of the time-control mechanisms 15a, 15b; Further, the automatic actuation of the lever 41 by the timing mechanisms 15a, 15b between On and Oil positions, as described above, is exactly the same as though the lever 41 were being actuated manually; the manual and automatic operations are mutually non-interfering and no change-over device is required in switching between them. Therefore, the automatic action of the time-control device may at any time be superseded by manual action if desired. It will be clear that in place of a simple .On- Off control switch 51, other forms of two-position control switches or mechanisms may be used.

In Fig. 4 there is illustrated a repeat-non-repeat mechanism particularly suitable for embodiment in a timecontrol device of the type illustrated in Figs. 1-3A-C, inclusive, having a 24-hour cycle, that is, a device in which the faces 9a, 9b are 24-hour faces and in which the time shafts 22a, 22b and settable hour shafts 33a; 33b have 24-hour periods of rotation, and in which it is desired that the particular on-ofli timing cycle may be made effective either for a single cycle, that is, nonrepea or one which is repeated in each 24-hour period. In Fig. 4, elements which are the same as those of Figs. 1-3A-C, inclusive, are identified by the same reference numerals while those which correspond to, but diifer from, elements of the embodiment of Figs. 1-3A-C, inclusive, are represented by the same reference numerals increased by 200.

In the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 4, the discs 228w, 22812 on the settable minute shafts 26a, 26b, respectively, have serrated or toothed edges as illustrated. Cooperating with the serrated discs 228a, 228b isv a U- shaped locking element 70 mounted on a pivot 71 supported from the frame of the device. The edges 72a], 72b of the upstanding arms of the element 70 are bevelled and disposed to engage the toothed discs 228a, 228b, respectively. In order to actuate the element 70 into and out of engagement with the discs 228a, 228b, there is provided a manually operable knob 73 mounted on a shaft 74 suitably journalled in frame bearings, omitted for the sake of clarity. The shaft 74 terminates in an extending eccentric pin 75 which engages a slot 76 in element 70.

In order to provide for resetting the timing mechanism for repeat operation, portions 77a, 77b punched from the discs 228a, 2281: to form the recesses 230a, 23011 are not severed but are bent inwardly to form camming ramps for the lugs 232a, 2321; of the collars 231a, 231]) secured to the time minute shafts 16a, 16b. To aid in the resetting operation, the lugs 232a, 232k may be tapered, as shown, in the same direction as the slope of the cams 77a, 77b.

In the operation of the mechanism of Fig. 4 as applied to a time-control device of the type shown in Figs. 1-3A-C, inclusive, it may be assumed that initially it is desired that the deviceoperate over a single cycle, that is, nonrepeat, as previously described in connection with the apparatus of Figs. 1-3A-C, inclusive. Under these conditions, the knob 73 is adjusted to the nonrepeat NR position and is effective, through the pin 75 and slot 76, to rotate the element 70 about the pivot 71 so that the edges 72a, 72b of the element 70 are disengaged from the discs 228a, 2281). The operation of the time-control device is then the same as that of Figs. 13A-C, inclusive. That is, when the time shafts and the settable shafts reach angular correspondence, the lug 232a: of the On" mechanism engages the recess 2300 to permit relative axial movement between the settable shaft 26a and the time shaft 16a, which is effective to actuate pawl 47a, ratchet element 40, and switch 51 (Fig. 3A) to energize any connected electrical device. Thereafter, the time shaft 16a drags the disc 228a, shaft 26a, and knob 27a with it, resulting in a single operation of the On mechanism. A similar operation of the Off mechanism follows. In order to reset the time-control device for another cycle of operation, the knobs 27a, 2711 are pushed inwardly and reset to the desired time for the second operation.

If it is desired to repeat the initial cycle of operation each twenty-four hours, the knob 73 is moved to the repeat or R position in which the element 70 engages the discs 228a, 2281) and prevents their rotation. The operation of the On mechanism under the control of knob 27a and the OE. mechanism under the control of knob 27b is exactly as described previously. However, after operation of either mechanism, for example, the On mechanism, continued rotation of the lug 232a by the time shaft 16a causes it to ride up the surface of the cam 77a and out of the recess 230a so that it is conditioned for a repeat operation approximately twentyfour hours later when it again arrives at angular correspondence with the recess 236a, that is, at a time determined by the setting of the knob 27a. The Off mechanism operates in the same manner.

The provision of the elongated bevelled edges 72a, 72b of the element engaging the toothed discs 228a, 228b permits relative axial movement of these elements during normal operation and the reset operation, as described, While maintaining the desired locking engagement between the elements. It is apparent that in the time-control device of Figs. 1-3A-C, inclusive, with the repeat-nonrepeat mechanism just described added, the manual lever 46 may still be operated independently of the automatically operating timing mechanism, whether set for a repeat or a nonrepeat cycle of operations.

While there have been described what are at present considered to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention, and it is, therefore, aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall Within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed. is:

1. In a timing system including timing motor means, a time-control device comprising: at least one time shaft adapted to be driven by said motor means; at least one settable shaft; a pivoted lever having at one end thereof an element pivoted thereon and supported thereby and biased to a fixed position relative thereto; a pivoted actuating arm engageable with said element to actuate said lever only upon angular correspondence of said shafts; and control means actuated by said lever, said lever being manually operable for actuating said control means independently of said actuating arm.

2. In a timing system including a timing motor means, a time-control device comprising: a pair of time-control mechanisms each including at least one time shaft adapted to be driven by said motor means, at least one settable shaft, one of said shafts having a disc provided with a recess and the other having an axially extending lug engageable with said recess to permit relative axial movement of said shafts upon axial correspondence thereof, means for biasing said shafts for relative axial movement, and a pivoted actuating arm engaging said disc and operable only upon relative axial movement of said shafts; a two-position control means; and a pivoted lever having at one end thereof an element pivoted thereon and supported thereby and biased to a fixed position relative thereto and having an operating connection to said control means, said actuating arms being disposed on opposite sides of said lever and being engageable with said pivoted elements positively to actuate said control means to a different one of its operating positions.

3. In a timing system including timing motor means, a time-control device comprising: at least one time shaft adapted to be driven by said motor means; at least one settable shaft; a pivoted lever having at one end thereof an element pivoted thereon and supported thereby and biased to a fixed position relative thereto; a pivoted actuating arm having a one-way driving engagement wtih said element to actuate said lever only upon angular correspondence of said shafts and thereafter disengaging said element; and control means actuated by said lever, said lever being manually operable for actuating said control means at any time in either direction completely free of said actuating arm.

4. In a timing system including timing motor means, a time-control device comprising: at least one time shaft adapted to be driven by said motor means; at least one settable shaft; a pivoted lever having at one end thereof an element pivoted thereon and supported thereby and biased to a fixed position relative thereto; a pivoted actuating arm having a notched end thrustingly engageable with said element to actuate said lever only upon angular correspondence of said shafts; and control means actuated by said lever, said lever being manually operable for actuating said control means at any time in either direction completely free of said actuating arm.

5. In a timing system including a timing motor means, a time-control device comprising: a pair of time-control mechanisms each including at least one time shaft adapted to be driven by said motor means, at least one settable shaft, one of said shafts having a disc provided with a recess and the other having an axially extending lug engageable with said recess to permit relative axial movement of said shafts upon axial correspondence thereof, means for biasing said shafts for relative axial movement, and a pivoted actuating arm engaging said disc and operable only upon relative axial movement of said shafts; a two-position control means; and a pivoted lever having at one end thereof a pivoted element biased to neutral position and having an operating connection to said control means, said actuating arms being disposed on opposite sides of said pivoted element and being engageable therewith positively to actuate said control means to a different one of its operating positions, said lever being manually operable for actuating said control means at any time in either direction completely free of said actuating arms.

6. In a timing system including timing motor means, a time-control device comprising: at least one timecontrol mechanism including minute and hour time shafts adapted to be driven by said motor means; settable minute and hour shafts; a pivoted actuating arm operable only upon angular correspondence of said time shafts and the respective ones of said settable shafts; control means; and a pivoted lever having an operating connection to said control means and having at one end thereof an element pivoted thereon and supported thereby and biased to a fixed position relative thereto and having a one-way driving engagement with said arm to be actuated thereby, said lever being manually operable for actuating said control means at any time in either direction completely free of said actuating arm.

7. In a timing system including timing motor means, a time-control device comprising: at least one timecontrol mechanism including minute and hour jtime shafts adapted to be driven by said motor means, a settable minute shaft axially movable relative to said minute time shaft only when in angular correspondence therewith, a settable hour shaft axially movable relative to said hour time shaft only when in angular correspondence therewith, means for biasing said shafts for said relative axial movements, and a pivoted actuating arm operable only upon said relative axial movements of said shafts; control means; and a pivoted lever having an operating connection to said control means and having at one end thereof an elementpivoted thereon and supportedthereby and biased to a fixed position relative thereto and having a one-way driving engagement with said arm to be actuated thereby, said lever being manually operable for actuating said control means at any time in either direction completely free of said actuating arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,860,159 Porter May 24, 1932 1,951,028 Lux Mar. 13, 1934 2,124,442 Truesdale et a1. July 19, 1938 2,193,297 Schneider Mar. 12, 1940 2,200,110, Anderson May 7, 1940 2,440,142 Elliott Apr. 20, 1948 2,481,840 Hardgrave Sept. 13, 1949 2,545,617 Kaefer et al. Mar. 20, 1951 2,635,689 Hall Apr. 21, 1953 2,783,835 Poole Mar. 5, 1957; 

